Postdoctoral Position

Studying Vascular-Associated Tissues and Organs

Fully funded postdoctoral positions are available to study vascular-associated tissues and organs in the zebrafish in the laboratory of Dr. Brant Weinstein in the NICHD Division of Developmental Biology (DDB) in Bethesda, Maryland. The Weinstein laboratory uses a variety of cutting-edge molecular, cellular, genetic, transgenic, microscopic imaging, and next-gen sequencing approaches to study the development and function of important and clinically relevant vascularized tissues and organs, including the gills, the meninges, and the Axillary Lymphoid Organ (ALO).

Our laboratory recently discovered that zebrafish have mammalian-like meninges that are readily observed and imaged in living animals through the thin, translucent adult zebrafish skull. We are using the advantages of the fish to study this critical but poorly understood set of tissues and to model meningeal cerebrovascular injury. We also recently discovered a previously uncharacterized lymph-node-like, externally located secondary immune organ, the “Axillary Lymphoid Organ” (ALO), that we are using to study how secondary immune organs develop and function as vascular-immune interfaces. In addition, we have shown that the readily accessible zebrafish gills possess unusual gas-exchange endothelial cells that strongly resemble the specialized “aerocyte” endothelial cells of lung alveoli, and we are using the fish to study the development and function of these important cells.

The scientific environment, resources, and stipend support for these positions are superb. Learn more about research in the Weinstein lab.

Interested applicants should have a Ph.D. or M.D. and less than 3 years' postdoctoral experience. To apply, send a curriculum vitae, bibliography, cover letter with a brief description of research experience and interests, and the names of 3 references (with phone numbers) via e-mail to weinsteb@mail.nih.gov.

The NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs.

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Click image to enlarge.

IMAGE: The confocal images above show dorsal (left) and lateral (right) views of the heads of Tg(mrc1a:egfp), Tg(Ola.Sp7:mCherry-Eco.NfsB) double-transgenic animals at 20 days (left) and 5 weeks (right).  This double transgenic line allows us to simultaneously image blood lymphatics and lymphatic-related cells in the brain and skull development with exquisite detail and resolution.  The animal at left was also injected with an intravascular dye to visualize blood vessels.  See Castranova et al. external link for more examples of vessel imaging in the meninges.
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